Steve Bradwick, procedure secretary for the selection, said: “I can confirm Rhys Lewis won it on the first round of voting.

Christine Chapman AM will stand down from her role in 2016

“I can also confirm that 80 members turned up on the day, and we had 69 postal applications.

“We were very happy with the turnout.”

'I am convinced we can win'

Councillor Lewis, who lives in Abercynon, said: “I am very proud to be selected as the Cynon Valley candidate for the Assembly elections next year, especially as I was born and grew up in the area.

“The people of the Cynon Valley are its greatest asset, and I am looking forward to meeting with as many people as possible, to ask them how the National Assembly can help them, and work better for them.

"With the right team in place, I am convinced we can win here in the Cynon Valley, through an exciting manifesto.”